Hypotheses fingo. Epistemological considerations on philosophical thought experiments.

The present dissertation focuses on the notion of philosophical thought experiment. In particular, the work aims at assessing a number of fundamental logico-epistemological features which seem to characterize both their internal structure and their possible use. The first chapter intends to show the philosophical relevance of the central epistemological question raised by scientific thought experiments. The second chapter aims at drawing attention on the central role played by our intuitions in the execution of philosophical thought experiments. The third chapter, finally, delves into logical aspects of the argumentative structure of most philosophical thought experiments and puts forward a proposal concerning the kind of reasoning they instantiate.